Can puncturing and sealing device



Oct. 12, 1937. A. B. SPITLER CAN PUNCTURING AND "SEALING DEVICE Filed June 24, 1936 Qflrlkurfi Jpz'ilm;

WITNESS ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 12, I937 UNITED STATES, owe-E;

'2 ,og5,4s'3[ i p (JAN PUN'CTURING ANn si ma DEVICE Arthur Bf Spitler, w th, Ohio Application June 24, 1936, Serial No. 87,075 6 Claims. (01. 220-51) My invention relates to improvements in puncturing and sealing devices for cans, particularly milk cans, and the primary purpose thereof is to provide a simply constructed, eificient device of the character indicated which may be readily and securely clamped to the top of the can and embodying can-puncturing devices operative to puncture'sealing and unsealing positions, respectively, and a bail-like handle for carrying the can -and operating said devices and adapted to lie parallel with the top of the can in either position of said devices out of the way when'the can is deposited upon a shelf or in arefrigerator or the like.

Other objects are to provide a device of the character and for the purpose above set forth which is strong and durable, easy to operate in puncturing a can, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and subordinate objects, together with the exact nature of my improvements, will become readily apparent as the following description proceeds and upon reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specifica- :tions.

.In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of the usualform of milk container or can equipped with my invention. Figure 2 is a view in side elevation illustrating the puncturing devices in unsealing position. 1

Figure 3 is a view in top plan.

. Figure 4 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the parts in puncturing and sealing position, and

Figure 5 is a view in perspective'of a clamping member for securing the bail or handle and the puncturing devices to the'can.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, my in- 0 vention in its preferred embodiment comprises a clamping member 1 formed of a length of rodlike resilient metal bent upon itself to provide a straight bridge portion 2 designed to overlie the top end of a can 3 and having right-angled 45 loop ends 4, comprising outer and inner parallel arms 5 and 6 respectively, the inner arms 6 terminating in inner right-angled jaws 1 designed to overlie the edge of the top of the can at diametrically opposite points thereon. 50 The inner arms 6 and the jaws I are spaced slightly from the outer arms 5 and the bridge portion 2 to spring outwardly of the can 3 and the inner arms 6 are shouldered, as at 8, to take under the usual flange 9 at the end of the can. 55 A substantially triangular bail Ill, having side arms H, is swingably mounted on the bridge portion 2 intermediate the jaws l by looping the ends of the side arms H around said portion, as at l2. 1 The looped portions l2 are disposed adjacent to the inner ends of the jaws l to prevent side-play of the bail Ill. The looped portions l2 terminate in puncturing devices in the form of substantially semi-circular sharp-pointed punches l3 curving back against the side arms II and disposed in planes at right angles to the axis of the bridge portion 2.

The clamp l is designed to be secured to the top end of the can 3 by sliding it over said end until the jaws 1 are in diametrically opposite positions on the'can top, the shoulders 8 engaging 15 of the can 3 on one side of the clamp I, the punches l3 will assume an upstanding position clear of the can top, as illustrated in Figure 2, and when the said bail is swung to the other side of the can top into a position substantially parallel therewith, the punches 13 will beforced into the can top to pierce the same at opposite sides thereof and seal the punctures therein.

The looped portions I2 of the bail arms II are provided with a pair of shoulders I4 and I5 designed to engage the inner ends of the jaws 1.- 35 to limit movement of the bail I ll in the described 1 positions thereof. This feature provides for holding the bail Ill in a right-angled position relative to the ends 4 of .the clamp l on one side of said clamp out of interfering position when the clamp 40 is being applied to the can. In the opposite, the puncturing and sealing position of the bail l0, overthrow movement of the bail Ill and punches I3 is prevented so that the punches l3 cannot tear the top of the can and thus impair their sealing function.

As will be clear, the bail Ill functions in the dual capacity of a punch-operating member and a handle for the can to which the invention is attached.

The foregoing description will, it is believed, suifice to impart a clear understanding of my invention.

It is to be understood, however, that the details described in the foregoing are illustrative of a end portions looped around said bridge portion,-

whereby said bail is swingable on said bridge portion, said looped portions terminating in curved sharp-pointed punches swingable into and out of the top of the can simultaneous with the swinging of said bail, V

2. A puncturing and sealing device for, attachment to the top of the can and comprisi'ng',

a clamp including a straight bridge portion adapted to overlie the top end of a can and having right-angled resilient end arms for clamping the top edge of the can therebetween, and a bail. member comprising a pair of side arms having endportions looped around said bridge portion, whereby said: bail is swingable on said bridge portion, said looped portions terminating in curved sharp-pointed punches bent back upon the side arms of: said. bail forswinging movement therewith into andout of the top of the can. r

3. A puncturing and sealing device for attachment to the top of the can and: comprising,

a clamp including a straight bridge portion adapted to overlie the top end of a. can and having right-angled resilient end arms for clamping the top edge of the can therebetween, anda bail member comprising a pair of side arms having end portions looped around saidbridge portion, whereby said-bail is swingable on said bridge portion, saidlooped portions terminating in curved sharp-pointed punches bent back upon the side arms of said bail for swinging movement therewith into and out of the top of the can, said looped portions being. disposed ad.- jacentto said end arms whereby side-play of the bail on the bridge portion is prevented 4. A puncturing. and sealing. device for attachment to the top of the can and comprising, a clamp including. a straight bridge portion adapted to overlie the top end of a can and having right-angled resilient end arms for clamping the top edge of the can therebetween, and a bail member comprising a pair of side arms having end portions looped around said bridge portion, whereby said bail is swingable on said bridge portion, said looped portions terminating in curved sharp-pointed punches bent back upon the side arms of said bail for swinging movement there- With.into and out of the top of the can, and cooperating deviceson said looped portions and said ends of the bridge portion, respectively, for limiting movement of said bail in either position thereof.

5. A puncturing and sealing device for attachment to. the top of a can and comprising, a clamp including a straight bridge portion adapted to: overlie. the top end of the can and having right-angled looped ends comprising inner and outer resilient arms laterally spaced from. each other, the inner arms terminating in right-angled jaws adapted to overlie the edge of the top of the canto clampingly engage the. same at diametrically opposite points thereon, and a-bail member comprising a'pair of side arms having end portions looped; around said bridge portion adjacent to said jaws whereby said bail is swingable onsaid bridge portion, said looped portions terminating in. curved sharp-pointed punches swingable by said arms into and out of the top of the can.

6. A, puncturing. and sealing device for attachmentto the top of a can having an end flange and comprising, a clamp including a straight bridge portion adapted to overlie the top end of the can and having right-angled looped ends com-prising, inner and outer resilient arms laterally spaced from each other, the inner arms terminating in right-angled jaws adapted to overlie the edge of the top of the can to clampingly engage same at diametrically opposite points thereon, and a: bail member comprising a pair of side arms having end portions looped around said bridge portion adjacent to said jaws whereby said bail is swingable on said bridge portion, said looped portions terminating in curved sharp-pointed:v punches swingable by said arms into and out of the topof the can, said jaws having shoulders thereon adapted to take under said flange on the can.

ARTHUR B. SPITLER. 

